In Round 9 this year, a gutted Carlton outfit left the Gabba wondering what might have been, erasing a 49 point lead held by the Brisbane Lions to fall agonisingly short by 11 points.
The defeat left Carlton with a 1-8 record and the pressure on coach Michael Voss at an all-time high.
With little left to offer, Voss tendered his resignation, bringing his tenure at Ikon Park to a stalling halt, handing the reins to interim coach Josh Fraser to lead the team for the remainder of the season.
At the time, Carlton's season appeared finished. However just six rounds later, the Blues are one of the competition's in-form sides.
Since Fraser took charge, the Blues have been untouchable winning five consecutive matches, transforming from one of the bottom-feeders of the AFL to a team with genuine finals aspirations in 2026.
A monumental turnaround for the club, but it begs the all important question: what has changed? Has Fraser implemented a game style better suited to the Blues playing group, or has a fresh voice at the helm allowed the Blues to rediscover their best football?
Not a lost cause
The Blues 1-8 record through the opening nine rounds of 2026 made for grim reading, and the manner of their defeats only amplified the sense of crisis surrounding the club.
However, beneath the disappointing results were signs the Blues were not as poor as their ladder position suggested.
Carlton's inability to protect their first-half leads was the defining story of their early season struggles.
In six of their first eight games, Carlton led at halftime playing some scintillating football rivalling some of the competition's best. They held a 20-point lead over the Sydney Swans at the SCG in the Opening Round, a 42-point lead over the Melbourne Demons at the MCG in Round 3, and a 23-point lead over Collingwood at the MCG in Round 6.
Rather than being consistently outclassed, Carlton's problem was its inability to sustain their elite play for four quarters of football. They displayed consistently that the club had the game style and talent to be a great team that could compete with the league's best, but they lacked the consistency and composure to sustain their play and win games.
Ultimately, the disappointing record proved too difficult for Voss to overcome. However, the foundations had already been laid for Fraser to step in and steer Carlton back in the right direction.
The Fraser Effect
Fraser wasted little time stamping his authority on the side, implementing a defensive system that turned a once vulnerable team into a disciplined connected outfit in just six weeks.
Through nine rounds, the Blues ranked 15th for points against in the competition giving up 101.3 points per match and allowing over 100 points in six of their eight losses. Since Fraser took over, the transformation has been immediate, with the Blues conceding just 67.2 points per match, surpassing even the league's best defence in Fremantle at 69.7.
With Voss at the helm, the Blues had real trouble stopping flurries of goals from their opposition with Sydney barrelling home 18 second-half goals in Opening Round and Melbourne's 66 point turnaround in Round 3.
After implementing Fraser's new defensive system, the Blues are yet to concede more than four consecutive goals before a response.
The key defensive duo of Nick Haynes and Harry Dean have been impassable in defence, while Jacob Weitering has been dominant when available.
Carlton's ball movement from defensive 50 up the ground is much improved with Ollie Florent and Nic Newman helping propel the Blues with aggressive kicks and cutting angles to attack.
The Blues improved defence can also be attested to the rise in form of their midfield group.
Patrick Cripps has returned to All-Australian form under Fraser, averaging 29.4 disposals and 6.8 clearances per game, while Sam Walsh is averaging 28.2 disposals and 4.2 clearances, making the pair a formidable force in the midfield.
Recalling 2025 John Nicholls Medallist, George Hewett back to the senior side has paid dividends for Carlton, boasting averages of 24.2 disposals and 0.8 goals playing as an elite third midfielder.
Inside 50, the attacking trio of Will Hayward, Brodie Kemp and Harry McKay have hit their stride, combining for 25 goals across the past five matches.
Carlton's forward line endured a difficult adjustment period following Charlie Curnow's absence early in 2026, but the Blues have since found a formula that works, producing a far more connected and dangerous attacking unit.
A September Surge
The Blues have taken some big scalps during their remarkable resurgence, defeating the Western Bulldogs, Essendon and premiership contender Geelong, decimating Port Adelaide and making light work of the Giants on their way to a perfect 5-0 record.
With nine rounds of football still to be played, Carlton sit just four points outside of the Wildcard Round, with plenty of time to continue its race towards September.
West Coast and Richmond are the next two sides in Carlton's path, making the prospect of seven consecutive victories a genuine possibility.
The Blues will not leave Melbourne for the remainder of the home-and-away season and face just two current top-six opponents in that stretch.
What once appeared an impossible task is now firmly within reach, with Carlton a realistic chance of remaining in the finals hunt deep into September.
